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Report: Rice May Decide 'Dog Chapman' Case
POSTED: 1:54 pm EDT September 14, 2006
UPDATED: 8:39 am EDT September 15, 2006
Condoleezza Rice may decide the case of bounty hunter Duane Chapman, who is wanted in Mexico after he illegally caught a wanted rapist there three years ago.
Larry Butrick, chief of the criminal division of the U.S. attorney's office in Hawaii, told CNN while a magistrate in Hawaii will determine if Chapman can be extradited to Mexico, the final decision will be made by the U.S. secretary of state.
MSNBC first reported that U.S. officials arrested the TV reality star and two family members in Hawaii for extradition to Mexico on Thursday.
The action took place at the request of the Mexican government in the form of a diplomatic note sent on Wednesday.
Chapman's wife told MSNBC's Rita Cosby that heavily armed U.S. marshals arrived at the family's house and took away Chapman, his "blood brother," Tim, and son, Leland.
Video: Beth Chapman Talks To NBC News
"I was getting the children ready for school and the U.S. marshals burst in our door and they just came right in and took him," said Beth Chapman on MSNBC.
"He was in shock. He was, he was shocked. He was shocked and he was amazed that the marshal's service that came to get him didn't even treat him as kind as he treats his own prisoners."
A representative from the Marshal's office had a different version of what happened in Hawaii.
"There were 7 deputy marshals who went to Chapman's home," said Jay Beber, from the U.S. marshal's office in Hawaii.
"We knocked on the door to announce that we were U.S. marshals. … Mr. Chapman was compliant and very respectful."
The Chapmans were in custody and expected to remain in custody until a bond hearing is held.
Mona K. Wood, a publicist for the star of the popular cable series "Dog The Bounty Hunter," said Chapman would be vindicated. "He arrests the bad guys -- and he is definitely not one of them," she said.
The charges stem from Chapman's capture of Max Factor heir Andrew Luster on June 18, 2003, in Puerto Villarta, Mexico, said Marshals spokeswoman Nikki Credic in Washington.
Charges have been pending against the three since local police in Mexico arrested them shortly after they roped in Luster. They posted bail but never returned to Puerto Villarta for their court hearing on July 15, 2003, Credic said.
Mexican authorities demanded that the Chapmans transfer Luster to Mexican police. Their refusal to do so led to their initial arrest.
A U.S. warrant for their arrest was signed by a federal judge in Honolulu on Wednesday.
Bounty hunting is considered a crime in Mexico. At that time, Mexican prosecutors maintained that Luster's capture violated their sovereignty.
The Chapmans each could face up to 8 years in prison if they are returned to Mexico and convicted on kidnapping charges.
Luster is now in jail, serving a 124-year term for rape.
